Any aging EXO-Ls out there like I am? Well, TECNO is proud to announce their newest Global Brand Ambassador, Lay Zhang!

Who’s Lay?

If you’re not following the K-Pop scene nor the Chinese entertainment industry, you might be questioning who is he even.

As early as 2012, I already knew Lay Zhang the moment he was unveiled as one of the members of the widely-popular 3rd generation K-Pop 12-member boy group ‘EXO‘ managed by SM Entertainment.

He was specifically meant for EXO-M, the group’s Mandarin-speaking/singing six-member sub-unit — not until member changes happened and later promoted wholly as nine.

But prior becoming a boy group member, Zhang Yixing (his real name) was already a prominent child actor in his hometown — Hunan, China. Several years and experiences passed by, he became an independent singer-songwriter, dancer, and even a fashion trendsetter. Eventually, Lay Zhang became a superstar to his motherland.

But that’s not all! He’s also well-known in Southeast Asia, especially with his very recent girl group survival show “Show It All” which featured several girl groups from various Southeast Asian countries such as ‘BINI’ and ‘G22′ from the Philippines, ‘4Eve’ from Thailand, and ‘DOLLA’ from Malaysia.

He earned several more recognitions not just in music and dancing, but also in more serious acting — specifically in his recent film “No More Bets” which was released just last year.

Why Lay?

Lay Zhang is deemed the perfect fit for TECNO’s brand mantra “Stop at Nothing”. Just like TECNO users’ relentless pursuit of excellence past the limits, Lay also never stopped pushing his boundaries in his career.

After his early calling as an actor later turned into an idol group member, he embarked on a new journey by being a soloist in 2016. This made him more popular not just in the K-Pop and Chinese entertainment scene, but also globally.

As told by TECNO’s Chief Marketing Officer, Laury Bai, “At TECNO, we are dedicated to igniting the spirit of relentless self-improvement among our consumers. Lay Zhang, a global star celebrated for his pursuit of excellence across diverse domains, exemplifies the ‘Stop at Nothing’ ethos we champion.”

And in Lay Zhang’s own words, he is very honored to be the new ambassador for TECNO and is much excited about the collaboration. He also stated that this brand mirrors his own journey of innovation and self-advancement.

The Perfect Synergy

This newly-formed alliance is of a perfect timing as Lay just released his latest album “STEP”.

STEP is a testament to Lay’s unwavering determination in continuous progression — “Every step, no matter how big or small, contributes to the journey toward progress and success”.

Moreover, the superstar is already gearing up for his upcoming world tour, GRANDLINE 4: STEP  with upcoming stops in Jakarta, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This also makes the best opportunity for TECNO to bring out exciting activities for Xingmis and TECNO fans alike in order to engage and interact with Lay in more creative ways than one.

 

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Lay will also help showcase TECNO’s innovative technologies and participate in various brand activities and CSR programs. This not only shows the brand’s advancements in the tech scene, but also showcase creativity, style, and elegance along music and cultural engagements.

Fueled by both the rising tech brand and the top-tier Chinese icon’s commitment to “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO and Lay Zhang are dedicated to inspire and empower consumers globally to create a better life beyond one’s limits and creative imagination.

We are halfway already into the year. Those into streaming movies and series have probably already checked several boxes on their respective to-watch lists, if not all. And if animated movies and series suit your taste, rejoice, because Netflix has just announced a ton more titles coming to the streaming platform for the rest of the year and even beyond.

Here’s a quick preview video to get you started:

Be ready to update your lists or bookmark this page for your next binge-watching session.

Films

Ultraman: Rising: June 14

Baseball star Ken Sato returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. While saving Tokyo from monster attacks, he also meets a 35-foot-tall fire-breathing baby kaiju. He will have to balance work and parenthood, while protecting the baby from forces as well.

The Imaginary: July 5

Studio Ponoc’s film centers on Amanda and her imaginary companion Rudger, a boy no one can see but imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures. Rudger suddenly arrives alone at the Town of Imaginaries, where he faces a mysterious threat.

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie: August 2

Based on the Spongebob SquarePants series, this standalone movie takes viewers to Sandy Cheeks’ hometown of Texas to save Bikini Bottom as it is scooped out of the ocean.

Spellbound: November 22

Directed by Vicky Johnson, Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of Lumbria’s rulers. She goes on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transformed her parents into monsters.

That Christmas: December

Based on Richard Curtis’ trilogy of children’s books, That Christmas follows a series of tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: This winter

Lastly, the next installment of Nick park and Merlin Crossingham’s adventure takes viewers for a ride as Wallace invents a “smart” gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. That’s where Gromit steps in to battle these forces and mastermind behind the inventions, to save his master.

Also coming in 2025 are:

• In Your Dreams
• K-Pop: Demon Hunters
• Plankton: The Movie
• Pookoo
• The Twits

Anime

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (Parts 1 and 2): August 22

This film covers the Shadow Galactica arc, which is the final chapter of the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon series. Sailor Moon must stand up and fight again when Shadow Galactica, an organization bent on destroying everything and destroying the universe, begins eliminating her friends one by one.

Tokyo Override: This 2024

In an AI-optimized Tokyo set a century in the future, an orphan teenage hacker blends in until a favor for her only friend inadvertently draws her into a benevolent gang of outcast motorcyclists. This uncovers the utopian city’s sinister underbelly through a murder investigation linked to a drug syndicate.

Aside from these two films, My Oni Girl is already available on Netflix. Meanwhile, Leviathan, which focuses on the eve of the war in 1914 and the airship of the same name, will be releasing in 2025.

Preschool

Of course, it’s only imperative that there are new titles for kids when talking about animated shows. Gabby’s Dollhouse (August 5), CoComelon Lane (August 19), and the second season of Hot Wheels Let’s Race (Fall 2024) are all scheduled to release later this year.

Adult Series

Exploding Kittens: July 12

God gets fired from above and sent to Earth to reconnect with humanity. But there’s a catch: He’s trapped in the body of a chubby house cat. He moves in with a dysfunctional family and tries to solve their problems. But He ends up spending a lot of time chasing laser pointers. And to top it off, Godcat’s next-door neighbor, who is also a cat, turns out to be the Antichrist. The result is the ultimate fight between good and evil. Or is it?

Terminator Zero: August 29

In 1997, the AI known as Skynet gained self-awareness and began its war against humanity. A survivor from 2022 is sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. As she helps Malcolm Lee, the scientist who works to launch a new AI system to compete with Skynet, Malcolm is also hunted by an assassin from the future which alters the fate of his three children.

Twilight of the Gods: Fall 2024

This series brings Zack Snyder’s take on Norse mythology to life.

Tom Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft: October 10

Set after the events of the Tomb Raider video game trilogy, this series will chart the next chapter in Lara Croft’s adventure.

Arcane (Season 2): November 2024

The award-winning animated series returns, starring Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell.

Also, the final season of Big Mouth, the longest running series in Netflix series, will be dropping next year. The Undervale, which is about a single mother who runs a haunted hotel, is also coming soon.

Family Series

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (Season 2): Fall 2024

Set six years after Camp Cretaceous, members of “The Nublar Six” struggle to find their footing off the islands filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them. They are able to reunite in the wake of tragedy, only to realize they’ve been catapulted into a global adventure to unravel a conspiracy that threatens dinosaurs and humnkind alike.

Jentry Chau vs the Underworld: 2024

Lastly, this show’s titular protagonist is a Chinese-American teen living in a small Texas town. She finds out a demon king is hunting her for the supernatural powers she’s been trying to get rid of. With the help of her great-aunt and millennia-old jiangshi, Jentry must now fight an entire underworld’s worth of monsters.

Coming soon on Netflix: Ghostbusters, Minecraft, more

Other titles with “coming soon” status for now are Motel Transylvania and Wolf King. Netflix is likewise working with Sony Pictures Animation for an animated series based on the Ghostbusters. Additionally, the service is collaborating with Mojang Studios for another series based on the popular game Minecraft.

In an era of big-budget action movies, a simple popcorn thriller can do wonders. These are the films where you can just turn your mind off and enjoy the action. If you’re hankering for just that sensation, Bad Boys: Ride or Die is now showing in theaters.

Now, when I say that Bad Boys: Ride or Die feels like a 90s action movie you can catch on TV, I don’t mean it negatively. The film was a ton of fun. It won’t grab awards, but it’s well worth the price of admission.

The film continues the adventures of Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence). Though it looks like life is finally going well for the duo, a new threat digs up the past and implicates the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) with a corruption charge. The situation gets hairier when the duo’s investigation involves them into the police’s suspicions.

Admittedly, it’s not the most unique plot for an action film. However, the movie’s magic is the electric chemistry between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. While Smith once again plays the cool cop, Lawrence just shines as the comedic relief. I don’t remember a scene where I wasn’t laughing at Lawrence’s shenanigans.

Lawrence’s character Burnett spends the entirety unafraid of death, despite almost dying in the first act. He also faces a plethora of dietary restrictions, so his biggest quest is to find sugar against his doctor’s wishes. Bad Boys: Ride or Die plays this off remarkably well. It doesn’t come off as an ill-spirited film that pokes fun at illness and obesity. It’s just fun.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die is now showing in cinemas across the country.

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